Oxford United star Ciaron Brown bags Northern Ireland brace

Michael O’Neill’s men stormed to a comfortable victory in Group F of the UEFA Nations League thanks to two goals from the Yellows centre back and a strike from West Bromwich Albion midfielder Isaac Price.

The result saw a second win and third clean sheet in three matches for Brown’s nation with Northern Ireland sitting top of their group on seven points ahead of Ukraine and Hungary on four and Georgia rock bottom with one.

Brown picked up the Player of the Match award for a stellar performance at both ends of the pitch, scoring his first after just nine minutes.

The 28-year-old tapped in from close range in the opening stages to put his nation into the lead.

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Price added a second in the 22nd minute before Brown bagged his team’s third just after the hour mark with a bizarre goal after goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk fumbled the defender’s header.

U’s teammate Brodie Spencer also played the full 90 minutes at the Štadión Antona Malatinského.

Northern Ireland’s Ciaron Brown, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Nations League soccer match between Ukraine and Northern Ireland (Image: Denes Erdos/PA Wire)

Brown was bemused but bouncing after the match, telling the media: “If I’m going to talk you through the second (goal), I don’t have a clue.

“We’ve worked on set-pieces a lot and I’ve gone to flick it on.

“To be fair, big Ruairi [McConville] has done me a massive favour and left it. He’s a better guy than I am and I can only thank him.

“I thought Ruairi tapped it in, but I was just buzzing for the fact that we got another goal.”